In a rare interview Aug. 25, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad commanded self-assurance: “We have strong confidence in the Russians, as they have proven throughout this crisis, for four years, that they are sincere and transparent in their relationship with us.” Speaking to the Lebanese satellite TV channel Al-Manar, Assad characterized the Russian stance vis-a-vis his country as “principled” and “constant.”
The statement may have been perceived as a message to the West: The Syrian leader signals he is politically alive and kicking and has his back covered by Moscow. Some of the most vocal critics could have even interpreted the statement as a sign of Russian complicity with the actions of the Syrian regime. However, Assad’s message has a more profound undertone. Above all, it characterizes the perception of the Syrian president of his own standing at the moment.
